Monthly Archives: January 2012

He’s watching me too!

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January 21: Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke 21

He’s watching me too!

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 21:1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.
2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

Observation: Is giving important? Jesus was at the temple, took note of what people were giving, and made comment. His comments are interesting to me, but what caught my attention this time was just the fact that He was watching the people as they gave.

Application: Obviously, He watches my giving too. My giving is important to Him. The next time I give an offering, although I am not giving for people to see, I do need to remember that He sees the gift; He sees my heart; and He sees what is left.

Prayer: Lord, You are the greatest giver of all! Let the truth that You live in me be seen in my giving. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Children

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January 20: Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

Children

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Observation: How easy it is to understand why the Lord’s enemy would want to destroy children.
1. They offer the most pure praise, not yet tainted by sin.
2. Children are made in the image of God.
3. Jesus came into this world as a child.
4. Every hero, every great leader, every doctor, etc. came into the world as a child.
5. We all come to Him as children.
Let’s offer pure praise!

Application: What is important to God is important to me. Children are so important to God that he considers what I do to children as though I did it to Him!

Prayer: Lord, teach me to love children as you do. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

“…until I come back.”

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January 19: Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

“…until I come back.”

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 19: 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Observation: In Jesus story, a nobleman gave his servants money to be invested. The goal was clear; they were rewarded according to how well they had invested it. The timeline, though indefinite, was also clear; it was to be put to work until he returned.

Application: Like everyone else, The Lord has given me talents. These talents do not belong to me and are not for my benefit; they belong to the Lord and are for His benefit. He has told me what to do with them: “put them to work.” He has told me for how long: “until I come back.” Circumstances change, especially as I grow older, and how I use the talents given me may change, but they are not to remain idle.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for new and fresh ways to use the talents you have given me. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

How can I say “Thanks!”

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January 18: Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

How can I say “Thanks!”

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 18:43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Observation: Having been blind and now living as a beggar, this man did not have much to leave behind. When he was healed, he began following Jesus. He followed enthusiastically and his enthusiasm was catching. It just would not have been right if he had disappeared quietly into the crowd.

Application: Jesus paid for my sins by His death on the cross. He forgave me and considers me just as if I had never sinned!!! How wrong it would be for me to disappear quietly into the crowd. How right it is for me to follow Him enthusiastically!

Prayer: Lord, like Andrea Crouch sings: “How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me, Things so undeserved, Yet You gave to prove Your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Seven times a day…

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January 17: Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke 17

Seven times a day…

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Observation: In this verse, Jesus is not speaking to the one sinning. He is not giving permission to repeat the sin seven times a day. Jesus is speaking to the one offended. Healing comes to us as we forgive those who sin against us. And it is so important that even if our brother sins against us seven times in one day, we need to forgive. Forgiveness should be the first step in negating the effects of offences that come our way, especially since Jesus commands it.

Application: I am not given permission to continue sinning. I am being told how I should react when others sin against me.

Prayer: Lord, You are the Great Forgiver and You are with me when I need to forgive! Thank you! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Not a C.S. Lewis

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January 16: Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

Not a C.S. Lewis

Scripture: Luke 16:30 "‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 "He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"

Observation: Some say that Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus is a parable. I believe it is a true story about real people. But if it is only a story, Jesus never told stories about fictitious people, places, or things. His parables were always true to life. Jesus was not a C.S. Lewis writing the Chronicles of Narnia about a magical land with animals that talk. Here the rich man, tormented in hell, begs for someone to be sent from the dead to warn his brothers.

Application: I need to be careful not to underestimate the power of the Word of God. The rich man was told that the written Word, which at that time consisted of the Books of Moses and the Prophets, was more powerful than someone with a fantastic testimony about being raised from the dead.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep Your Word fresh in my heart, always ready to share it with others. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

God’s Problem

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January 15: Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke 15

God’s Problem

Scripture: Psalm 7:10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.

Observation: There are two characteristics God must have in order for us to claim He is good. If God does not love and save His people, how could we call Him good? If God is not holy in dealing with sin which harms those He loves, how could we call Him good?

God’s problem: what does He do when those He loves the most get involved in what He hates the most? To overlook sin and let it destroy those He loves would not be good. To let his hate for sin destroy those he loves would not be good.

God’s solution: He sent Jesus to die on a cross thus making the appropriate and sufficient payment for man’s sin.

God’s dilemma: when those who have received forgiveness and cleansing from sin refuse to tell others the good news and they themselves continue to live as though sin is no big thing! Duh…

Application: If I truly love God, then what He thinks and feels is important to me. So I will tell others around me of His great love and will keep sin from becoming a part of my lifestyle.

Prayer: Lord, I want to live my life to please you. I want to bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

How special is that!!!

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January 14: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

How special is that!!!

Scripture: Genesis 35:13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.
14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.

Observation: The Creator God who made the heavens and the earth talked to Jacob! How special is that!! It was something to celebrate. Jacob marked the spot in such a way that it would always be remembered as special. He named it Bethel which means “the house of God.”

Application: I have special memories of places where God has spoken to me. When I think of those places, I remember the specific things God told me which in time brought major change to my life. AND just a special are the daily times when God speaks to me from the Bible. God talks to me. How special is that!!!

Prayer: Lord, from one of my favorite songs, “And You walk with me, and You talk with me. And You tell me I am Your own. And the joy we share as we tarry there—none other has ever known.” Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Purpose and Expectation

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January 13: Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

Purpose and Expectation

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 13:6 Then he (Jesus) told this parable: “A man had a fig-tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Observation: Each part of God’s kingdom has been created with a purpose. He expects that His creation fulfills its purpose.

Application: God has an expectation of me. Of all creation, the highest purpose was given to man. I am to glorify God (make Him look good) in everything I do. He expects me to do that and is disappointed when I do not fulfill my purpose. His mercy and grace is abundant, but time is short.

Prayer: Lord, may you find in me what you expect. May I bring joy to your heart. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Value

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January 12: Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

Value

Scripture: Luke (NIV) 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Observation #1: Even the birds of little significance to me are not overlooked by their Creator. He created them and they have value.

Application #1: I need to be careful to treat God’s creation with respect. I should value creation as He values it. I should value creation because it is His work.

Observation #2: God is interested in the smallest insignificant details about man—even the number of hair on his head! Man has more value to God than other creation. For man He was willing to send His Son to die for our sins!!!

Application #2: How can I feel worthless or insignificant when I know that I am valuable to my Creator.

Prayer: Lord, as the song-writer put it: “I sing because I’m happy; I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow; and I know He watches me.” Civilla Martin Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!